Conservation Ecology & Entomology
Our Department
The Department of Conservation and Entomology brings together a considerable body of teaching and research in the rapidly growing and important field of conservation of utilized landscapes and their surrounds. In principle, the aim is to have agricultural and forestry production without compromising the natural viability of the agricultural land mosaic.
Under this umbrella of conservation in the agricultural and forestry contexts, the range of expertise ranges from integrated pest management, conservation of natural communities, management of living resources, conservation policy formulation to technology transfer. We are a forward-thinking, dynamic department with a distinct agricultural and forestry address. This is reflected in the vision, mission and strategic objectives of the department.
Strategic objectives
- To develop a centre of excellence in teaching and research in the field of ecologically-sensitive agriculture.
- To develop a spectrum of research from ‘management for scarcity’ (conservation) to ‘management for abundance’ (integrated pest management).
- To link strongly with the agricultural production sector across a distinct range of arenas, from ecotourism and sustainability to fruit and timber production.
- To place special emphasis on PhD students as a core of productivity which draws more junior students yet leads to top professionals and good research outputs.
- To engage, where appropriate and strategic, with the policy and management sectors, with special emphasis on information and technology transfer.
- To develop strategic international liaisons, with other universities, research institutes, corporate organizations, leading international conservation organizations; and participate on Editorial Boards of lead journals.
- To focus research on certain scarce resources, particularly water.
- To engage in research which has distinct management objectives, from biodiversity conservation to integrated pest management.
